Spain: Court Releases Suspect in Isa Balado's Live TV Sexual Assault
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns harassment, outraged by release, and demands proper legal accountability for culprit
Location: Madrid, Spain
Date: September 12, 2023
During a live report on a robbery in Madrid, journalist Isa Balado was inappropriately touched. The police apprehended the assailant, but the chief magistrate ultimately released the perpetrator on bail. The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses its unwavering support for Isa Balado. We firmly denounce the harassment experienced by women journalists and are deeply disappointed by the chief magistrate's decision to release the culprit. We strongly urge the judiciary to reverse the decision and ensure that the perpetrator faces legal consequences for his actions.
On September 12, police arrested a person inappropriately touching reporter Isa Balado, who was live reporting on a robbery in Madrid for Cuatro’s En Boca De Todos. The chief magistrate of Investigative Court number 54 in Madrid has granted the man's release under the Forces and Bodies' custody without imposing a restraining order.
The assault gained significant attention online, leading to a wave of condemnation from people online and government officials alike, expressing their outrage and solidarity with the reporter, denouncing the inappropriate behavior, and calling for action to address such incidents.
Spain is experiencing its own second wave of #metooo, especially in light of a previous incident involving the former president of Spain's football federation kissing a player on the lips during the Women's World Cup final.
Mediaset España, the owner of Cuatro, strongly condemned any form of harassment or aggression.
"We categorically repudiate any form of harassment or aggression," Mediaset España stated. "We offer our full support to Isa Balado, the reporter for 'En boca de todos,' after the completely intolerable situation she experienced today."
Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz expressed her views on the matter, taking to Twitter to state, "It is due to machismo that journalists endure sexual assaults like this, and the perpetrators show no remorse when confronted on camera."
“It is due to machismo that journalists endure sexual assaults like this, and the perpetrators show no remorse when confronted on camera”
While the live broadcast was promptly interrupted by the in-studio anchor Nacho Abad — who urged Balado to bring the man in front of the camera to uncover his identity before departing the scene — the perpetrator continued to inappropriately touch the reporter by attempting to stroke her head.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism firmly supports Isa Balado and condemns these flagrant acts of harassment against women journalists. We express our strong resentment towards the decision made by the chief magistrate to release the perpetrator pending trial. We urgently call upon the judiciary to reconsider their ruling and ensure that the assailant is held accountable for his actions. We express our concerns regarding the need for increased awareness and decisive efforts to combat sexism and promote respect for women across different sectors of society.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.